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Hore: Davies' shocking injury

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 09:20

My last memory was last Wednesday and my mind has pretty much gone blank since then

Bradley Davies said he holds 'no grudge' against disgraced All Black Andrew Hore, despite the force of the hooker's cheap shot landing him in hospital and resulting in a shocking three-day memory loss.

Speaking to WalesOnline, Davies said he cannot remember anything from the two days before the Test in Cardiff last Saturday or the day of the game itself.

Davies also revealed the under-fire New Zealander had phoned and texted him to apologise over the incident.

The 25-year-old Welsh player, who does not know when he will play again, was taken to hospital with serious concussion, following the off-the-ball incident just 30 seconds into the All Blacks' 33-10 win at the Millennium Stadium last Saturday.

Hore was banned for five weeks (translated into five matches - one test, three pre-season games and one Super Rugby fixture next year) at a disciplinary hearing in Bristol on Wednesday.

Scottish judicial official Lorne Crerar has come in for some criticism for the leniency of the ban, and the statement that Hore had not intended to strike Davies in the head.

The ban was also reduced from eight weeks because of Hore's good character, guilty plea and his remorse towards Davies.

"It is a bit lenient when you think I got a 14-week entry point reduced to seven for my tackle," Davies said, in reference to a ban he received for an off-the-ball incident in the Six Nations.

Davies also revealed the seriousness of his injury, which included a remarkable memory loss.

"I couldn't tell you how it happened until I saw it on TV, but my jaw is still hurting," Davies said.

"My first reaction when I saw it on the television replays afterwards was: 'Oh, that is what has happened'.

"I felt very groggy for a while afterwards.

"My last memory before the game was last Wednesday and my mind has pretty much gone blank since then.

"I was in college doing a plumbing course and I cut my finger with a hacksaw.

"That was the last thing I can remember.

"I was actually only out cold for a couple of seconds on Saturday, but when I came to, I had lost all my short-term memory.

"That was strange because that had never happened to me before.

"I have been knocked out loads of time, but nothing like this has happened.

"It is not nice waking up and not knowing what has gone on.

"After the game I was gone and I did not have a clue what was going on.

"Apparently I was asking the same question over and over again!

"On Sunday I was still a bit fragile and did not make much sense.”

The lock insisted he now wants closure on the incident, adding: "It was a bit naughty, but he caught me a cracker and that is rugby.

"It is just one of those things. I got in his way and he caught me flush on the jaw.

"I know what he is going through because I got banned last season for seven weeks and missed the Six Nations and Grand Slam for a stupid off-the-ball incident in the opening match in Ireland.

"People ask you why you do it.

"But it is hard to explain and you can't answer them because you don't know yourself.

"I am not sure how they branded the ban because I had a 14-week suspension that was halved to seven which I thought was harsh at the time.

"But the incident has gone and I hold no grudges.

"He has called and texted me to apologise and I would like to leave it there.”

Davies will miss Saturday's showdown with Australia and is in doubt for the Blues' European Cup double-header against Montpellier in the next fortnight.

He admitted he could struggle to pass the medical examination.

"Hopefully I will be back next week, but I have to keep passing these knockout tests,” he added.

"It is tough enough when you are normal, never mind when you have had a bang on the head!

"There are all different questions and you have balance and do memory tests and recite the months of the year backwards. That is difficult enough when you are fine.”